# You can see any theatrical production in history live. What do you choose? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 21, 2011, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484 "2011-08-21T00:49:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/41 "2011-08-22T13:53:38Z")
Assuming that you have a superb insta-translator, opening nights for Lope de Vega’s _Fuenteovejuna_ and Molière’s _Malade imaginaire_, both wih the original casts of course. With my apologies to our French-language posters, who may disagree, those are their own cultures’ equivalents to watching a Shakespeare opening night at the Globe. I wouldn’t mind being at the openers for _Aida_ and _Die Zauberflöte_ (I think I spelled that right) either. ---
**Author:** ![Reloy3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/42 "2011-08-22T17:40:39Z")
So many good answers. I would choose the opening night of Verdi’s Otello at La Scala, February 5, 1887. It took almost six years of persuading (or plotting) Verdi out of retirement to write it. 20 curtain calls and the audience removed his carriage’s horses to pull him to his hotel in appreciation. The city shut down the streets for blocks around, and the audience chanted and applauded outside his balcony until 5:00 the next morning. Not Verdi’s best (IMHO), but the atmsphere must have been electric. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/43 "2011-08-22T17:47:33Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve already got tickets to see Patinkin and Peters Sunday in the Park with George (opening night, of course) In my experience, the _second_ performance of any given play is almost always the best. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/44 "2011-08-22T17:51:38Z")
The original Broadway production of \*West Side Story \*with Carol Lawrence and Chita Rivera. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/45 "2011-08-22T17:51:55Z")
I’d like a seat on the bus going to the Globe theater…not picky about which show. Also, I would like to have seen opening night of Funny Girl with Streisand. It would have been fun to have seen Carrie, just to say you saw the most expensive flop on Broadway (watch the most recent episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm for the reference that made me think of this.) ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/46 "2011-08-22T17:58:42Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Just out of curiosity, why did you pick this? I’ve become interested in the Ziegfeld Follies because of an interest in the songwriter Dave Stamper, but I don’t know a lot about them individually. I found [this page](http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?ID=8558) on the 1917 Follies. What catches you? (It’s so great to see you back btw!) The \*cast! \*Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor, W. C. Fields, Peggy Hopkins Joyce, Allyn King (the showgirl, not the comedian), Will Rogers, Lilyan Tashman, Bert Williams! ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/47 "2011-08-22T18:23:50Z")
If there’s still a ticket (and translator) for _Oedipus Rex_, I’ll take it. (Though if I had time to go through them, I might choose another Greek play). Wouldn’t mind seeing one of the Who’s live _Tommy_ shows, if rock concerts with quasi-opera themes count as theater. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/48 "2011-08-23T14:25:33Z")
Any show in ancient Galilee with Jesus in the audience. ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/49 "2011-08-23T15:35:21Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Any show in ancient Galilee with Jesus in the audience. Especially _Jesus Christ Superstar._ Meta. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/50 "2011-08-23T15:36:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > In my experience, the _second_ performance of any given play is almost always the best. You seem to be implying that there are times in which Bernadette Peters is less than goddesslike. I’m sure that was an accident. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/51 "2011-08-23T15:39:13Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Any show in ancient Galilee with Jesus in the audience. That’s going to be hard to book. And the restrooms (by which I mean outhouses) will not be up to the standards I require (by which I mean they’ll be freaking outhouses). So, no. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/52 "2011-08-23T16:13:29Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > [Eye-witness account](http://www.globe-theatre.org.uk/globe-theatre-fire.htm) > > According to witnesses, everybody got out safely. So I stand by my choice. From that account: “…and certain cannons being shot off at his entry, some of the paper or other stuff, wherewith one of them was stopped, did light on the thatch, where being thought at first but idle smoak, and their eyes more attentive to the show, it kindled inwardly, and ran round like a train, consuming within less than an hour the whole house to the very ground.” What kind of trains did they have in 1613? ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/53 "2011-08-23T17:59:28Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > From that account: > “…and certain cannons being shot off at his entry, some of the paper or other stuff, wherewith one of them was stopped, did light on the thatch, where being thought at first but idle smoak, and their eyes more attentive to the show, it kindled inwardly, and ran round like a train, consuming within less than an hour the whole house to the very ground.” > > What kind of trains did they have in 1613? I believe it is definition 5 from here: [TRAIN Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/train?show=1&t=1314122208) > [@](#): > > 5 : a line of combustible material laid to lead fire to a charge There is also a definition of a moving line of people or things (or clothing). I believe both of these well pre-date the steam locomotive you are probably thinking of. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/54 "2011-08-23T19:07:52Z")
In the summer of 1972, as a callow 20 year-old studying in England, I saw a play called [_Butley_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butley_(play)), directed by Harold Pinter and starring Alan Bates. While I thoroughly enjoyed the play, I had no idea who Harold Pinter and Alan Bates were. I would love to be able to see that production again! ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/55 "2011-08-23T19:26:21Z")
In the summer of 1972, as a callow 20 year-old studing in England, I saw a play called [_Butley_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butley_(play)), directed by Harold Pintar and starring Alan Bates. While I thoroughly enjoyed the play, I had no idea who Harold Pintar and Alan Bates were. I would love to be able to see that production again! ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/56 "2011-08-23T19:42:49Z")
Oooh, I also want to go back to Berlin in 1928 and see the revue _Es Liegt in der Luft,_ with Marlene Dietrich, Margo Lion, Oskar Karlweis, and Mischa Spoliansky’s wonderful orchestra! Then while I am there, wander around to see if Anita Berber is dancing anywhere nearby. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/57 "2011-08-23T20:28:14Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > \ I’d love to have seen Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews in _My Fair Lady_. \ The longtime Broadway theater critic for The New Yorker magazine Brendan Gill said that the single most electrifying performance he had ever seen on Broadway was Julie Andrews singing _I Could Have Danced All Night_ in this production. I’d like to have seen what it was like. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/58 "2011-08-23T22:30:53Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > That’s going to be hard to book. And the restrooms (by which I mean outhouses) will not be up to the standards I require (by which I mean they’ll be freaking outhouses). So, no. On the other hand it comes with all you can eat loaves and fishes. (And for an extra two mites Jesus will turn some ketchup into tartar sauce.) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/59 "2011-08-23T22:39:31Z")
Are we allowed to to sneak in 21st-century recording devices? If so, I’d like to be in the Ziegfeld Theatre at Sixth and 54th (Manhattan) on March 13, 1947, for the opening night of _Brigadoon_, starring **kaylasgreatauntie** in the role of Fiona. Kayla (and **kaylasmom** , of course) would surely love to have a DVD of that. No backstage chitchat, though; I trust I needn’t expand on the reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484/60 "2011-08-23T22:41:02Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Are we allowed to to sneak in 21st-Ccentury recording devices? Sure. What do I care? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-see-any-theatrical-production-in-history-live-what-do-you-choose/593484.md?page=4)